Earlier this month, Apple held its annual September keynote, showcasing new additions coming to the iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPod product lineups. Hosted by CEO Tim Cook, viewers flocked to the live streamed event for a first time look at the highly-anticipated iPhone 14 and its unique design components, the second iteration of the AirPods Pro, as well the reveal of an unexpected piece of hardware, the exploration-minded Apple Watch Ultra.
Ahead of when the new product roster hits store shelves on September 16, Hypebeast headed to Apple’s Tribeca, New York showroom to try out the iPhone 14 Pro, Apple Watch Ultra and Airpods Pro 2 first-hand.
iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max
Nick Llanton/Hypebeast
Nick Llanton/Hypebeast
Nick Llanton/Hypebeast
Nick Llanton/Hypebeast
Nick Llanton/Hypebeast
Nick Llanton/Hypebeast
Nick Llanton/Hypebeast
Nick Llanton/Hypebeast
Enclosed in protective ceramic glass and powered by the A16 Bionic, the fastest chip available for smartphones, the 6.1-inch (155 mm) iPhone 14 and 6.7-inch (170 mm) iPhone 14 Max bring together a new pro camera and advanced display technologies in a sleek and robust product.
Furthering the capabilities of its camera, Apple has integrated software and hardware to create Photonic Engine, functioning to improve the quality of low light photos. The Pro utilizes a 48MP Main camera with a quad-pixel sensor that responds to a given environment to maintain fine details, colors and textures in an image. Additionally, the camera now offers a 3x optical zoom feature, along with an adaptive two-tone flash that deploys an array of nine LED lights depending on the chosen focal length.
Perhaps the feature that has iPhone 14 users the most excited is the Dynamic Island, a fresh take on the lock screen and home screen displays. Appearing as a subtle black bar at the top of the screen, the Dynamic Island allows users to access controls and apps without blocking on-screen content. For instance, if a user sets a timer, a clock icon will be shown in the Dynamic Island bar. They can then hold down on the icon to see how much time is left on a timer. Likewise, if a user plays a song in the Apple Music app, the bar not only shows the track, and presents a convenient shortcut for the user to pause or skip the song.
Apple Watch Ultra
Nick Llanton/Hypebeast
Built for athletes and adventurers, the Apple Watch Ultra is a first-of-its-kind model that prioritizes durability and longevity. Encased in 49 mm of titanium, the Ultra is waterproof, as well as primed to brave harsh weather and rugged climates.
At first glance, the Ultra is noticeably larger and brighter than other models in the Apple Watch lineup. On the side of the watch is an orange Action button that can be customized to streamline a user’s favorite tools and features, such as workouts and compass waypoints. Opposite to the Action button, a compass built into the watch’s dial can hold up to eight different complications. When a user presses down on the dial, the display shifts to accommodate evening conditions, switching to a black background and high-contrast red interface.
The Ultra also includes three microphones situated at various points on the watch to ensure great sound quality even in the windy outdoors. In such conditions, the watch automatically employs a noise-reduction algorithm to reduce background sounds.
AirPods Pro 2
Nick Llanton/Hypebeast
Nick Llanton/Hypebeast
Nick Llanton/Hypebeast
Nick Llanton/Hypebeast
In the revamped version of the AirPods Pro, Apple has delivered on many of the features users have been requesting since the wireless headphones first launched three years ago. The AirPods Pro 2 packs in essential upgrades such as active noise cancellation, a longer battery life and touch controls.
While its predecessor also offered noise cancellation, the Pro 2 has upped the game with an adaptive transparency mode that filters out overly loud outside sounds while amplifying music or voice calls. The headphones also promise improved sound quality through personalized spatial audio that caters how it delivers sound based on the size and shape of users’ head and ears.
Users can quickly control the volume of their audio by simply swiping up or down on the Pro 2’s stem. They can also press down on the stem to switch songs, answer phone calls and more.
Battery life for the headphones has been increased by 1.5 hours from the previous model, up to 6 hours on a full charge and 30 hours across four additional charges using the case. Those at risk of losing their headphones, meanwhile, can now attach it to their keys using a lanyard loop included with the Pro 2 case.
Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, Apple Watch Ultra and AirPod Pro 2 are up for pre-order now and will be available online and in-stores on Friday, September 23.
Elsewhere in tech, Twitter shareholders have voted to approve Elon Musk’s $44 billion USD Twitter deal.
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